A New York bar is literally kicking out customers for saying ‘literally.’

(This post originally appeared on The Washington Post)

Geez, talk about crotchety.

The owner of an iconic bar in New York’s Greenwich Village has had it up to his eyeballs with customers that say “literally” all the time. So much so that he’s threatening to kick out customers if they use the word.

A sign recently posted on the front door of the Trigger Smith’s Continental bar says:

“Sorry but if you say the word ‘literally’ inside Continental you have 5 minutes to finish your drink and then you must leave. If you actually start a sentence with ‘I literally’ you must leave immediately!!! This is the most overused, annoying word in the English language and we will not tolerate it. Stop Kardashianism now!”

Defending the English language is one thing. But attacking Kim and Chloe . . . now that may be going a little too far for me.

It seems like I’m not alone. One (likely former) customer voiced her displeasure at the sign by taking a dig at the bar’s “5 shots of anything for $10” offer by questioning his stand as a “ … valiant defenders and purveyor of highbrow culture.” Another online critic said she would never be spending her money there, “though,” she tweeted, “even if they didn’t have this sign I’m sure the bartender with the vest and waxed mustache would be enough of a warning anyway…”

Continental — once a hangout for punk rockers Iggy Pop and Joey Ramone — has been around for decades and Smith has been known to be grumpy about a lot of things, like wearing “saggy jeans” and hating phrases like “It’s all good,” “You know what I’m saying?” and “My bad.” He says the new “literally” policy is mostly tongue-in-cheek. “What’s annoying is people aren’t even aware they’re saying it,” he told Grub Street. “How could you be so unaware of your words that it’s coming out every couple minutes?”

Isn’t Smith worried about the effect this policy will have on his business? Most likely not. That’s because the bar recently filed for bankruptcy and is expected to close within the next few months. Smith’s dogged determination to keep selling $2 tap beers and cheap shots might have something to do with his financial position, but I can’t help but think that the “The Customer is Always Wrong” sign that hangs above his bar may not have been much of a help either.